Curtain-fixture.



S. C. HILLS CURTAIN FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED mm. 21. ms.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR @QW Anon m S. C. HILLS. CURTAIN FIXTURE; APPLICATION FILED mam. 1916.

1,242,441. l Pfitenbed Oct. 9.1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'IIVVENTOH mwviqwg UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY C. HILLS, OF TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TURNER & SEY- MOUB MANUFACTURING CO-, OF TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented ot. 9, 191?.

Application filed March 21, 1916. gerial No. 85,607.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY C. HinLs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Torrington, county of Litchfield State of Connecticut, have invented certa n new and useful Improvements n Curtain-F xtures, of which the following IS a specification.

My invention relates to curtain fixtures and more particularly to brackets whereby curtain rods and the like are detachably connected with window and other casings. The particular object of my improvement is to provide a bracket of simple construction with which the curtain rod or the like may be readily connected so as to be efficiently. supported thereby and in which the danger of accidental or unintentional dislocation of the rod is practically eliminated. A further object of my invention is to provide a bracket which will support the curtain rod in such a manner that the curtain may be draped or shirred thereon so as to substantially conceal the bracket from view. My improvement in addition contemplates the provision of an improved bracket for simultaneously supporting more than one curta n rod or the like in an eflicient manner and without interference one with the other. My invention will be fully described hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

By way of illustration a number of examples of my invention are shown 1n the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan View, partly in section of one form of my bracket showing the curtain rod connected therewith; Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 IS a perspective elevation of the bracket shownun Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 18 a plan view with parts in section of another form of my improvement; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective elevation ofthe bracket shown in Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of still another form ofmy improvement; Fig. 8 is a sectional view onthe line 8 8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a perspective elevation of the bracket shown in Figs. 7 and 8; Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 11 and showing a variation of' the bracket shownv in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and Fig.

, 11 is a face view of the bracket shown in Fig. 10.

In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 each bracket comprises a preferably flat plate 15 of metal or other suitable material provided at two opposite edges with flanges 16 and further having suitably located openings 17 for the accommodation of screws or other fastening devices 18. 'In the plate 15 is formed an aperture 19 communicating with a recess 20, the combined aperture 19 and recess 20 having approximately the form of what is commonly known as a keyhole slot, the longitudinal center line of which extends diagonally or obliquely to the vertical center line of the plate 15. In the operative position of the bracket the reduced portion or recess 20 of the said keyhole slot extends downwardly and is preferably arranged with its lower closed end in relatively close proximity to the outer edge of the plate 15, so that in cooperating brackets of each pair necessary to support a curtain rod the longitudinal center lines of the slots 1920 will incline in directions away from each other or in other words will diverge downwardly. 'In the operative positions of the brackets the flanges 16 rest against the casing a so that the plates 15 are located at a distance therefrom and a space is provided between the said plate and the casing a as shown in Fig. 1, the brackets being'secured in position on said casing by means of the screws or other fas tening devices 18.

In the illustrated example of this form of my improvement I have shown the brackets arranged to support a curtain rod 21,

the opposite ends of which extend at submay be ofany usual type and as shown is composed of the customary telescopic sections whereby the distance between its opposite ends may be adjusted. In order to properly cooperate with said brackets the said curtain rod 21 may be provided at its opposite free ends with projections each comprising a reduced neck 22- having a diameter adapted to fit into the recesses 20 of the key-hole slots and a relatively enlarged head 23. The latter in each case is of: a diameter which is greater than the width of the recesses 20 but which will readily pass throughthe apertures 19.

It will thus be seen that in order to attach the rod 21 to the brackets which have been previously secured in proper position upon the casing a it is simply necessary to pass the heads 23 inwardly through the openings 19 into the spaces between the plates 15 and the casing 01 and then move the necks 22 downwardly into the recesses 20. When the necks 22 are fully seated in said recesses 20 the heads 23 are located in the spaces between the plates 15 and the casing a and at the rear of the plates 15 and owing to their larger dlameters are prevented from being drawn or moved transversely through said recesses. The curtain rod 21 is thus firmly supported in its intended operative position, it being understood that if necessary the curtain or curtains may have been previously placed over the said rod. it will be apparent that the telescopic sections of the rod 21 will adjust themselves relatively to each other as the ends of the rod are connected with the brackets as described. The weight of the curtains will exert a force tending to rock the rod downwardly, the necks 22 resting upon the closed ends of the recesses 20 acting in the nature of pivots and will thus force the heads 23 into close frictional engagement with the rear surfaces of the plates 15. If desired the distances between the end faces of the curtain rod proper and the heads 23 may be such that a force isnecessary to bring the necks 22 into the recesses or in other words so that the opposite faces of the plates 15 at opposite sides of which recess 20 are frictionally engaged by and clamped as it were between the rod ends and the heads 23. In either case owing to the diagonal position of each key-hole slot, the ends of the curtain rod are firmly secured in position and the danger of said rod ends being unintentionally dislocated from said slots, as would be the case if said slots extended straight up and down, is reduced to a minimum and substantially obviated. The inclination of the slots relatively to the vertical center lines of the brackets is preferably such that even a force unintentionally exerted in an upward direction on the rod will fail to disconnect the endsthereof from the brackets. It will further be noted that it is necessary to gradually move the telescopic sections of the rod 21 inwardly relatively to each. other in addition to the necessity for moving the rod ends upwardly in the slots before the heads 23 can be brought into registry with the apertures 19 of the key-hole slots and the rod disconnected from said brackets by passing said heads outwardly through said apertures.

aaaeei The friction between said rod sections whieh resists a telescopic relative movement thereof is thus also efl'ective to prevent the rod ends from becoming unintentionally disengaged from the brackets.

Referring now more particularly to the form of my improvement illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. it will be seen that the brackets may be formed similarly to those shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and may likewise comprise the plates 15, flanges 16 and openings 17 for the accommodation of screws or other fastening devices 18- whereby said brackets are attached to the casing a, in the same way as in Fig. 1. In the form described the plate 15 is somewhat wider than the plate 15 and is provided preferably at a central point with an aperture 19 corresponding to the aperture 19 and from which two recesses 20 and 20 extend downwardly in diagonal diverging directions. As is shown in Fig. 6 both recesses 20 and 20 communicate with the aperture 19 andform therewith slots which may also be said to be of the key-hole type, the lower closed ends of said recesses 20" and 20 being located in close proximity to opposite edges of the plate 15. This form of bracket is adapted to support two curtain rods 21 and 21 which in the illustrated example are of the same general construction as the rod 21 excepting that the end portions of the rod 21 are somewhat larger than the corresponding portions of the rod .21 so that when both rods 21 and 21 are operatively supported on the brackets, the end portions of,

the rods will be spaced from each other and the main portion of the rod 21 will be located at a distance from and in front of the rod 21 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Both rods 21 and 21 may be provided at their ends with projections comprising reduced necks 22 and 22 and relatively larger heads 23 and 23 as in the form first described. The rods 21 and 21' are attached to the bracket in the same way as hereinbefore described by passin the heads 28 and 23 inwardly through t e aperture 19 and then moving the necks 22 downwardly in the recesses 20 and the necks 22 downwardly in the recesses 20*. As in the form previously described the sections of the rods 21 and 21 will adjust themselves as the connection with the bracket is effected. When fully combined with the brackets both rods are efliciently supported in operative position, the arrangement including the same advantages as those set forth with respect to the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it being understood that the form shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 may in general be constructed in the same way as in the form first described.

It will be seen that in the bracket of Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the aperture 19' provides an entrance .for the projections 22-23 and 22--23 which is common to both recesses 20 and- 20 and which is preferably centrally located on the plates 15. WVith this arrangement both rods enter the brackets at the same point and then take their final positions in the recesses 20 and 20 without interference witheach other, so that it becomes possible to 'connect said rods with and disconnect them from said brackets independently of, each other. In this form also the ends of the recesses 20 are so located on each bracket that the curtain or curtains on the outer rod 21 may be brought into close proximity to the casing a in order to substantially conceal the bracketsfrom view. It will be seen that both curtain rods 21 and 21 are also firmly held against accidental dislocation from the brackets in the same way as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

As illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9' the brackets may also comprise plates 15"similar to the plates 15 and 15 and likewise provided with flanges 16 similar to the flanges 16 and 16 and with openings 17 for the accommodation of screws or other fastening devices 18 whereby this form of bracket may be secured to the casing a in the same manner as in the two forms previously described. The 'plate 15 is, however, larger than plates 15 and 15 and is provided with an aperture. 19 corresponding to the apertures 19 and 19 and preferably located'on the vertical center line of the plate 15 form now being described the plate 15 is also provided with recesses 20 and 20 which communicate with said aperture 19 and extend downwardly therefrom in diagonal diverging directions as in Fig. 6, the lower closed ends of said recesses being likewise preferably located in close proximity to opposite edges of said plate 15. In addition to the recesses 20 and 20 the plate 15 is provided with a third recess 20 which also communicates with the aperture 19 and extends downwardly therefrom between the recesses 20 and 20 and preferably along the vertical center line of the plate 15. The form of bracket now being described is thus intended to simultaneously support the curtain rods 21, 21 and 21 which in the illustrated example are shown as of the same general construction as the rod 21 with the exception that the end members of each rod become progressively shorter. With this arrangement the three rods when connected with the brackets are supported thereon with the end membersof said rods spaced from each other and the main portions of said rods spaced from of each other as shown in Fig. 7. The said rods 21, 21 and 21 may have their ends also provided with projections similar to those of, Fig. 1 and comprising reduced as shown in Fig. 9. In the and located in front necks 22, 22 and 22 and relatively larger heads 23, 23? and 23, and are connect d with the brackets by passing the respective heads 23, 23 and 23 inwardly through the aperture 19" and then moving the necks 22, 22 and 22 downwardly in the recesses 20, 20 and 20 respectively. The method of connection and operation is the same as in the previous formsand the advantages present therein are also found in the form of bracket shown in Figs. 7, S and 9 which in addition .efliciently support a group of three curtain rods as shown in Fig. 7. In this form also the aperturel?) is common to all of the recesses and provides a common entrance preferably at a central point to the bracket, for the projections of the respective rods which projections may readily be brought to their final positions in the recesses 20, 20 and 20 without interference with each other and removed therefrom for disconnection from the brackets independently of each other. The operation and construction of the form at present being described may in general be the same as the two forms previously described. Owing to the fact that the lower closed ends of the recesses 20 are in close proximity to the outer edges ofthe plates 15" it is also possible to bring the curtain or curtains on the outer rod 21 into contact therewith so that in this form also the brackets are substan-.

tially concealed from view when the curtains are draped. It will be obvious that in order to obtain this result in the two forms of my improvement shown in Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive, it is only necessary to have the ends of the outwardly oblique recesses 20 and 20 or their equivalents located near the outer edges of the plates 15 and 15 respectively. The location of the closed ends of the inwardly oblique recesses 20 and 20 is not material as to this feature and as a result, need not be located near the inner edges of said plates, although such arrangement is preferred as it provides a symmetrical construct1on.

In some cases it'may be desirable to provide an additional means for maintaining the ends of the curtain rods or the like against unintentional removal from the respective recesses invwhich case I may pro-' vide the brackets with leaf springs or the like 24 which are located in registry with the slots or at least the'recesses thereof and which are arranged to frictionally engage the end faces of the heads 23 or their equivalents under tension. An example of such an fore the rod end can be removed from the recess 20 and disconnected' from the bracket thus providing an additional securing means which is not absolutely necessary but which may be used advantageously if desired. It will, of course, be understood that the illustration is only an example and that the spring 24 may be otherwise constructed and combined with the bracket than illustrated and also that devices having an equivalent function may besubstituted for said spring if desired. In other Words any means whereby the rod is additionally held against accidental removal from the bracket may be included therein if found desirable although generally speaking such devices will not be necessary. It will further be evident that the spring 24 or its equivalent may be included in the forms of brackets shown in Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive.

In all of its forms my improved bracket provides a simple and efiieient structure whereby a curtain rod or group of curtain rods may be efliciently supported on a casing or in other words in operative position. My improved brackets, by being constructed of one piece of material are cheap to manufacture, easy to attach in position on the casing and not likely to become disarranged.

raaaeai It Will of course be'understood that the brackets maybe attached to other faces of the casing than as shown and that they may be utilized for supporting other typeset curtain rods with equal efficiency.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within aperture being continuous. Y

2. A bracket of the kind described comprising a plate having an aperture, two re cesses communicating with said aperture and extending downwardly therefrom in opposite diagonal directions and a third recess communicating with said aperture and extending downwardly therefrom between said diagonal recesses.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

SIDNEY C. HILLS. 

